In a quiet stretch of Tennessee countryside, tucked near a wooded creek, a devoted mama dog gave birth to 12 tiny puppies. With no shelter, no food, and no one to care for her, the mother took on the impossible task of protecting and feeding them all on her own.
Word of the little family reached local rescuer Sarah Kodad, who immediately set out to find them.
“[I felt] sad and angry that another dog had been dumped,” Kodad told The Dodo.
Having spent years fighting for neglected animals, Kodad knew too well the heartbreak of seeing dogs abandoned by the very people they trusted most.
“They’re such loyal companions, who give their all for their humans,” she said. “It’s not fair for them to be tossed away or mistreated.”
When Kodad finally spotted the exhausted mama and her puppies, her heart sank. One tiny pup hadn’t survived. Gently, she gathered the grieving mother and her 11 surviving babies into her car and promised them they would never have to struggle alone again.
Kodad quickly reached out to Rubies and Rogues, a nonprofit dedicated to community aid and animal advocacy. With their help, she secured a foster home — and soon, the tired mom and her pups were curled up safely in soft beds, with full bellies and warm blankets.
For the first time in weeks, the mama could rest without fear.
“No more worrying about your babies, momma,” Kodad later wrote in a Facebook post. “No more pregnancies … no more struggling to survive.”
Now, the little family will stay in foster care until they’re ready to be adopted into loving forever homes. And thanks to one determined rescuer, a nonprofit, and a kind foster family, a mother’s fight for survival has turned into a story of hope.
If you’d like to help more animals like this brave mama and her pups, you can support Rubies and Rogues through donations.
